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DNI Tulsi Gabbard Emphasizes North Korea Threat Amid Domestic Controversies
Assessment of North Korea's Growing Threat
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated at the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment Hearing that North Korea's ICBMs can already reach the U.S. mainland, and it is expanding its nuclear arsenal. She emphasized that the increasingly confident North Korean regime remains a source of regional and global concern. Gabbard specifically pointed to weapons of mass destruction, conventional military capabilities, illicit cyber activities, and the demonstrated willingness to use asymmetric capabilities as posing a threat to the U.S. and its allies, particularly South Korea and Japan.
Gabbard estimated that in 2025 alone, North Korea likely stole approximately $2 billion in cryptocurrency, contributing to the regime's funding and further development of its strategic weapons programs. She added that Pyongyang continues to develop and expand strategic weapons programs, including missiles capable of evading U.S. missile defenses, while also working to increase its nuclear warhead stockpile and maintain biological and chemical weapons capabilities. Gabbard also noted that China and Russia are developing advanced delivery systems designed to penetrate or bypass U.S. missile defenses, identifying these nations as strategic competitors and potential adversaries of the United States.
Responses to Domestic Political Controversies
During the hearing, Director Tulsi Gabbard also faced questions regarding domestic political controversies, particularly concerning her presence at the Fulton County election board raid in Georgia last January, given her strong relationship with President Trump. Senator Jon Ossoff and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Mark Warner, both Democrats, pressed her on whether her visit was at the President's direct request, the purpose of her presence at the raid, and her oversight role in election security. Gabbard responded that she did not participate in any law enforcement activity and that the intelligence community's responsibility is to focus on any collection and intelligence products that indicate potential foreign threats. She also stated that she was not aware of reports related to election interference in 2020 and 2026. Her responses, which appeared to contradict some of President Trump's statements, further fueled controversy.
*Source: YouTube: SBS News (2026-03-19)*
